Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-26
THE NIGIgr DOCTOR.
A COlOred Nan Who Does Not Want TO
Sacrifice Himself TO Science.

There are still many ignorant colored people In
Washington who are firm believers in 'n1ght doc
tors" Everyone Of this class imagines that when
out at night he is IN danger OF having heavy
hand laid on his shoulder, a wide, strong plaster
suddenly clapped over his mouth, and being car
ried bodily 20 q neghboring dissecting room to be
cut TO pieces for the benefit OF science before the
breath is out OF his bocy. One OF the most per-
sistent in this belief is s. cOored laborer in the
War department. He Will not listen to reason
and nothing can shake his conviction. When
through work he goes straight to his home, not to
emerge until the next day. Nothing will induce
him 20 stay out after dark. He is a strange mix
ture OF ignorance, native shrewdneSs and good
humor. The latter characteristic lasts only
during daylight however and his best
loE they Know SR Wen that he Would mot
hesitate TO commit murder If he imagined he was
In danger OF becoming cadaver for the diSSecting
roorn- Hence, no practical jokes are played upon
him. Sometime ago a STAR reporter interviewed
him upon his belief and his strange but Imaginary
experiences. From that time the STAR man has
been strongly suspected OF being tone of EN- and
has always been treated with the greatest respect
II not sufficient for his cOlored acquaintance
TO Lift his wel-worn cap, but he must needs make
plantation obeisanee, seraping his number eleven
shoe along the teSSalated floor OF the corridor. The
other day The STAR reporter ran across him as he
was unloading truck OF frewoOd in one OF the
War department corridors. The reporter stopped
for little chat, hoping to draw him out upon the
topic upperInost in his mind. Much TO his sur
prise he found that he himself was the party TO be
Interviewed.
"GoOd morning." said THE STAR man, "where
have you been this long timer"
ais you bin huntin' fur met" he asked In reply,
darling suspicious glance.
mo indeed But not having seen you lately
thought you might be sick"
'No, Boss, i amt bin zactly sick, but 1 kind o.
onh1tched my back, yankfn' dis yer truck o. wood
up cline. Hit seemed like it bruk de back bone,
but hits comm long $3.50, tank de Lord" Here
upon the speakers expression changed from char
acteristic good humor to glowering suspicion.
Dropping the stick OF wood which he was hand
ling, he turned a searching glance upon The STAR
man and slowly muttered: ''Hit pears mighty
sup'stitous dat you is so consumed bout me. Whar
e days! you las SA'o' h'sh'' '"A midnight anu
q went to bed" meekly replied the scribe.
"IaS, cose you did a0ent, but whar you
Dere was plenty Of time TO rent and TO come"
After thinking awhile the reporter replied that
he supposed he remained in bed, unless he walked
"Dat settles 1t. Walked, What I seed was
a-Mak1n', now you heah me. Hit was a-walkin'
psse Was no seep about nit needer pu Hass
doan walk in dey sleep. widOut dey knows it, cider"
'Where were you and what did you see 2" coax
y was whar ailus is, come night. In de house
ana on De prlmlSeS. In an out, you know, k1nd0'
spyin' like: Nem'mine what seed ! amt tole
nobody. Not eben my ole oman. No hahn come
dat time, so dey amt no use q talkin. learnt
sumpin' dat night when dey chased me so In de
high grass dat night. Mebbe knowed who it was
and mebbe doan- Anyhow, Boss, you beJtah be
mighty keerful how yo come snoopin' roun my
place. Youse easy spoken, but you dOan tell hit
straight. Takes yo' too long, and yO' beat arOun'
and come back bout walk1n in yo' Sleep"
you know I'm all right and am on your sider
said the reporter appeasingly.
'Of cose. 70 Is on my side, and yod be on my
kyarkas TOO Ell 70 git chance" was the emphatic
response '.NOw Ill tiS tell y0 how hit Is" he con-
tinued. keep ciar o. me. Is teIlin yo Gods
trufe, kase / sperienced change from natur to
grace"
..Revival?" aueried the reporter.
mo, sah- No 'vival, and no moahner'S bench.
Us axed de good Lord TO glib Inc change OF heaht.
Oh cOSe dey amt no body in de wud watts all good
but case yO' aint got no Jeef in yo Jaws dat amt
no reason wy yO' dOan keep on a chawin' and
trytn' 10 cnaw- IO bettah keep tryin' to be good.
i amt sayin wat yO' is tryin' TO do but dOan do
bit on me, kase day certny VIII be trubble"
starting his truck down the corridor he could
be heard muttering 20 himself:
"Walkin' In his sleep! Dat settles it. Bettah
not come roun' me, sleepin or wakin.D